Posted on: Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Warriors' Azenha will miss road trip

 • Ex-Texas Tech athlete to join UH this season

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Pedro Azenha, the University of Hawai'i volleyball team's most productive hitter this season, has a second-degree sprain of his left ankle and will not play in road matches against UC Santa Barbara Thursday and Friday.

Azenha, a 6-foot-7 sophomore from Brazil, said he suffered the injury when Lewis player Jeff Soler stepped on his left foot in Game 3 of the Warriors' five-game victory last Saturday. Later, he aggravated it when he became entangled with teammate Joshua Stanhiser. Azenha, who had 33 kills against Lewis, was the most outstanding player of the Outrigger Hotels Volleyball Invitational.

Azenha, who wore a medical boot on his left foot yesterday, said he will undergo additional medical tests.

"I'm out for this road trip," he said. "The goal is to be back for the San Diego (match on Jan. 28). ... It's my first injury. I'm pretty lucky about that."

UH coach Mike Wilton said third-year sophomore Matt Bender will start at opposite hitter. "It's a big loss, but Matt Bender can play, and Matt Bender will step up," he said.

The 6-foot-3 Bender said: "This is the worst reason to start, but at the same time, this is something I've always wanted to do. Pedro will be fine. He'll come back at full strength. He's a great player. If I can do a 10th of what he does, we'll be fine."

Bender said he wanted to start for the Warriors "since my freshman year in high school. I dream about it at night. I'm ready to go."

Wilton said team co-captain Jake Muise, a libero, will replace Azenha on UH's 12-player active roster.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.